Baby&#39;s nipple tongs



April 9, 1940.

' BABYS NIPPLE TONGS Filed Dec. 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inqentor. PROSPER R. K NA PP,

A iiorneys P. R. KNAPP 2,196,441

April 9, 1940. P, KN P 2,196,441

BABY'S NIPPLE TONGS Filed Dec. 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A itorneys Patented Apr. -9,- 1 940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 ,196,441 I v 4 i 'BABYS} NIPPLE 'r'oNes- Prosper Knapp, Los Angeles, Calif. application December 1, 19.38, SerialiNc. M3445 I 6 Claims, (cur-5:1).

This. invention relates to: atool especially adapted for applying nursing nipples to babies a device of the above stated character which is simple and convenient to operate with one hand and which will permit a personto: applya nipple to a bottle without touching the nipple =with'the hands, thereby obviating any possibility of; con-- taminating the nipple and is of such av construction that the base of the nipple may be spread and held in a stretched position to' permit, easy and quick placing thereof on the bottle and to be released. on said bottle in a properly applied position.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. 1 3 l For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had-to the following descrip-- tion and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a tool constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the application thereof to a nipple priorto spreading and holding the nipple stretched.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the tool.

Figure 3 is a top plan view illustrating the tool spreading and holding stretched a nipple, the

latter being diagrammatically illustrated.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end elevation illustratinga portion of a babys bottle and the tool positioned thereover with the nipple both shown unstretched and stretched 'ready'for application onto the bottle g Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates elongated handles pivotally connected, as shown at 6. The handles where pivotally connected are abruptly curved and brought into overlapping relation. Integral with the handles and forming a continuation of the pivoted ends thereof are arcuately curved jaws l', the end portions of which are bent at right anglesv thereto to form upstanding extensions 8 each having notches 9 and l 0. The notches 9 are oppQsed to each other and are arranged in a plane below the notches I0 and the latter-named notches are arranged on opposite sides of the extensions from the notches 9, as will be clearly apparent in Figure 4. Y s v The jaws 1 and their extensions are employed for spreading and holding the base portion of a 1 nipple H spread. Coasting with-the jaws I for An object of this invention is the provision of V spreading the base of the nipple is a spring member I2-,. substantially V-shaped having its ends fastened onto the jaws 1 adjacent the pivot 6, while thexbightportion thereof is bent angularly to form'an extension [3 normally arranged adja I cent the. extensions 8. The spring member l2 acts normally to urge the jaws 1 toward each other with the handles in a spread position, as shown: in Figure 2; The extensions 8 and It are placed within the base of the nipple and by moving the handles toward each-other the base portion of the nipple is spread and held stretched, as shown in Figure 3, I

Coactingwith the extensions .8 to retain the base of the nipple thereon when the latter is spread or stretched, as shown in Figure 3, are retaining arms I4: arrangedin crossed relation and each has a. hook-shaped end [5 and the opposite end an'gularly disposed, as shown at It, and fastenedonto ajaw, I. By referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that when the ends iii of retaining arms M are applied to the jaws T, the arms cross each other and also cross over the jaw to which they are not applied or secured; The tendency of the retaining arms i4 is to spread apart, that is, the hook-shaped ends when the jaws l are moved in the direction of each other. However, when the jaws l are moved awayfrom each other the arms l4 or hook-shaped ends thereof move toward the extensions 8 and come in contact with the exterior walls of the base of the nipple and thereby obviate any possibility of the nipple slipping,

off of the extensions 8 and l3. The hook-shaped ends I5 will force the walls of the base of the nipple into thenotches ll] of the extensions 8,-as shownin Figure 4, thereby effectively securing the nipple onto the tool'in a spread and stretched I position. Further, it will be seen that the extension l3 moves away from the extensions 8 as the jaws 'l are moved apart, consequently, the base of the'nipple is supported or held as shown dia grammatically in Figure 3, whence it may be readily slipped over the mouth of a bottle ll and when so positioned the tool may be easily released therefrom by simply allowing the handles'fi to move apart under the action of the spring member I2 contracting the jaws 1 and spreadingthe retaining arms I4 and allowing the extension Hi to movetowa'rd. the extensions 8. Then by tipping the handles upwardly which tends to move the extensions I3 and 8 downwardly or at an angle,

, they maybe readily withdrawn from the base of thenipple allowing the latter to contract ontothe neck of the bottle. Therefore, it will be seen that a very eflicient and practical tool has been provided whereby a nipple may be spread and held stretched to permit its application to a bottle without the hands coming in contact therewith, consequently preventing the nipple from being contaminated and provides a very efficient and quick means of applying a nipple in a sanitary way.

While this invention has been described as especially adaptable for applying a nipple onto a bottle it may also be employed for. lifting nipples, as well as bottles, from a sterilizing bath. To remove 'a bottle from a sterilizing bath, the extensions 8 are placed inside of the neck of the bottle and the handles are squeezed together causing the extensions 8 to coact withthe hook shaped ends 15 of the arms l4 to coactin tightly, gripping the neck of the bottle so it can be lifted from the sterilizing bath without thehands corn-1' ing in contact therewith. Nipples are removed from the sterilizing bath in a like manner with the invention. I y

In use there aretwo types-of bottles and nipples, one type bottle having a comparatively large open mouth and the nipple therefor is con-l structed with a comparatively large base while the other type ofybottlehas a small neck and the nipple therefor has a comparatively small base to match the small neck. Thepresent invention will handle either type of bottle and nipple. In applying a small size nipple to a small size neck of a bottle, the hook-shaped ends l5 of the arms need not be employed. However, on the application of a large size nipple to a large size bottle it is essential that thehookshaped ends of the arms be employed:

During the applicatio-nof the nipple by this tool onto the neck of a bottle with the jaws l in a spread position, the flange of the bottle may enter the notches 9 at: diametrically opposite sides of the bottle and on the release of the hanas fairly fall within the scope of my claims may be resorted to when desired.

What I claim is:

1. A tool of the character described comprisa ing pivotally connected handles, arcuately curved jaws formed on said handles and having their free ends angularly disposedto provide extensions, spring means connected to the jaws between said extensions: and. the pivot of thehandles and acting on said jaws for normally urging the jaws toward each other and having an extension located adjacent to and coasting with r the first-named extensions in engaging in a base of a nipple for spreading and holding the base of the nipple stretched by movement of the jaws away from each other. I

2. A tool of the character described comprising a pair of handles pivotally connected at one end, arcuately curved jaws formed on the-pivoted ends of the handles and including nippleengaging means, and spring means connected I with said jaws adjacent the pivot of the handles and acting to urge the jaws toward each other and to provide means located adjacent to and coacting with the first-named means in engaging a nipple.

3. In a tool of the character described comprising pivotally connected handles, arcuately curved jaws formed on said handles, extensions formed on said jaws and arranged at right angles thereto, a spring member including ends connected to the jaws adjacent to the pivots of the handles and acting to urge the jaws toward each other and having a portion thereof bent at right angles to form an extension located adjacent to and coacting with the first-named extensions in engaging and spreading and holding :a base of anipple in a stretched position.

4 In a tool of the character described comprising pivotally connected handles, arcuately curved jaws formed on said handles, extensions formed ,on said jaws and arranged at right angles thereto, a spring member having ends thereof secured to the jaws adjacent the pivot of the handles and acting to urge the jaws toward each other and having a portion thereof bent at right angles to form an extension located adjacent to andv coacting with the first-named extension in engaging andspreading and holding a base of a, nipple in a stretched position, said first-named extension having notches, and means carried by said jaws to engage the base of the nipple for forcing the latter into the notches on the spreading of said nipple by the Jaws;

5. In a tool of the character described comprising pivotally, connected handles, arcuately curved jaws formed on said handles, extensions formed on said jaws and arranged at right angles thereto and provided with notches, a spring member connecting said jaws and tend ing to urge the jaws toward each other and having a portion thereof bent at right angles to form an extension located adjacent to and coacting with the first-named extensions in engaging and spreading and holding a base of a nipple in a stretched position, crossed retaining arms mounted on said jaws and having hook-shaped ends to engage with the nipple on being stretched for forcing portions of said nipple into the notches.

6. In a tool of 1 the character described com prising pivotally connected handles, arcuately curved jaws formed on said handles, extensions formed on said jaws and arranged at right angles thereto and. provided with notches, a spring member connecting said jaws adjacent the pivot of the handle and tending to urge said jaws toward each other and having a portion thereof bent at right angles to form an extension located adjacent to and'coacting with the firstnamed extensions'and engaging and spreading and holding a base of a. nipple in a stretched position,acrossed retaining arms mounted on said jaws and having hook-shaped ends to engage with the nipple onbeing stretched for forcing portions of said nipple into the notches. said first-named extensions having notches to engage with a flange of .a bottle neck on the ap plication of'the nipple onto the neck. 

